Having a security clearance can open doors to exciting and unique jobs that uncleared job seekers aren’t eligible to pursue. Working overseas as a contractor can be an appealing and rewarding option for adventurous job seekers. Applying for overseas jobs isn’t always an easy decision. Overseas jobs vary considerably, and it is wise to get as much information about the job requirements and expectations before signing on the dotted line. Depending on the country or region, special consideration may be necessary before moving forward.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of overseas contract jobs for veterans available. But not all of these jobs are for “private security contractors,” you know, the scary-looking guys with even scarier-looking weapons. While “private security contractors” are the ones that seem to make all the headlines, there are many other overseas contract jobs available.

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To lessen travel difficulties created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and commercial airlines are working to facilitate the ability of U.S. citizens to use certain expired passports to return from abroad directly to the United States.

U.S. citizens currently abroad whose passports expired on or after January 1, 2020, may be able to use their expired U.S. passport for return travel to the United States until March 31, 2022.

BACKGROUND: This report provides Department of Defense (DoD) contractor personnel numbers for 3rd quarter Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) and current status of efforts underway to improve management of contractors accompanying United States (U.S.) Forces. It includes data on DoD contractor personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS); Iraq and Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR); and the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

BACKGROUND: This report provides Department of Defense (DoD) contractor personnel numbers for 4th quarter Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) and current status of efforts underway to improve management of contractors accompanying United States (U.S.) Forces. It includes data on DoD contractor personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS); Iraq and Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR); and the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

KEY POINTS: During 4th quarter FY20, USCENTCOM reported approximately 43,809 contractor personnel supporting DoD in the USCENTCOM AOR, a decrease of approximately 5,128 from the previous quarter.

Managed by the National Science Foundation, the USAP deploys roughly 3,000 people to Antarctica every year to conduct scientific research, or provide support to researchers through the operation and maintenance of the research stations and vessels.

Inquiring about opportunities depends on your area of interest.

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BACKGROUND: This report provides Department of Defense (DoD) contractor personnel numbers for 2nd quarter Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) and current status of efforts underway to improve management of contractors accompanying United States (U.S.) Forces. It includes data on DoD contractor personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS); Iraq and Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR); and the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

KEY POINTS: During 2nd quarter FY20, USCENTCOM reported approximately 52,142 contractor personnel supporting DoD in the USCENTCOM AOR, an increase of approximately 1,678 from the previous quarter.

BACKGROUND: This report provides Department of Defense (DoD) contractor personnel numbers for 4th quarter Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) and current status of efforts underway to improve management of contractors accompanying United States (U.S.) Forces. It includes data on DoD contractor personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS); Iraq and Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR); and the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

BACKGROUND: This report provides Department of Defense (DoD) contractor personnel numbers for 1 st quarter Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) and current status of efforts underway to improve management of contractors accompanying United States (U.S.) Forces. It includes data on DoD contractor personnel deployed in Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS); Iraq and Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR); and the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).

KEY POINTS: During 1 st quarter FY19, USCENTCOM reported approximately 53,062 contractor personnel supporting DoD in the USCENTCOM AOR, an increase of approximately 3,611 from the previous quarter.

Loren Thompson— The U.S. government limits access to sensitive information by granting (or denying) security clearances after conducting background investigations. The system is expensive to administer, because five million Americans hold active clearances, and over a hundred federal agencies require clearances to participate in certain aspects of their work. In addition to such well-known designations as Secret and Top Secret, there are numerous specialized types of clearances with names like Majestic, Cosmic and Ultra that require rigorous background checks.

Civilian federal employees serving in combat zones would receive the same tax credit available to military personnel who work alongside them, under a new bipartisan bill.

The Combat Zone Tax Parity Act (H.R. 4621) aims to address a shortage of civilian workers staffing dangerous regions by extending a federal income tax break to those employees. Civilian employees who opt for hazardous overseas duty often perform important jobs in fields such as transportation reconstruction and health care, but do not qualify for income tax exemptions on their base pay like active duty military personnel do. Most civilians working abroad in such areas are employees of the Defense and State departments, the intelligence community and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Working overseas can be a wonderful experience. You might be looking at an overseas job or expatriate assignment with your current employer or you could have found a job on your own. Either way, don't embark upon an overseas employment opportunity without resolving issues related to the type of assignment or employment, your compensation and adapting to a new culture.

Whether you're accepting an overseas job as an expatriate assignment with your current employer or you're contemplating accepting a job with an overseas employer, you need to know how long you'll be there. You decision may depend on the length of time you're going to spend in a foreign country.

As a U.S. citizen/green card holder residing abroad, you still owe U.S. taxes on your worldwide income.  The U.S. has tax treaties with many countries, which allows the federal government to exchange data on its citizens living in other countries for tax purposes. Most importantly, if you do not file a tax return for a given tax year, the statute of limitations on that year never runs out.

If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live or work abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude from income up to an amount of your foreign earnings that is now adjusted for inflation  $97,600 for 2013 and $99,200 for 2014 and $100,800 for 2015.